After competing successfully together on the rally scene for several years, BMW Motorrad and Speedbrain GmbH are parting ways by mutual consent.

Munich, 11th March 2013. The BMW Group is realigning its motorcycle business area and will, in the future, concentrate on expanding the BMW Motorrad brand. For this reason, Husqvarna Motorcycles has been sold to Pierer Industrie AG. This restructuring also has a knock-on effect on partner Speedbrain, with whom the BMW Group has cooperated very successfully in the field of motorcycle racing since 2006. BMW Motorrad and Speedbrain have, by mutual consent, terminated the existing contract with immediate effect.

“We would like to thank Speedbrain for the successful cooperation we have enjoyed in recent years,” said Berthold Hauser, Project Leader at BMW Motorrad. “In Speedbrain, we knew that we always had a reliable and highly professional partner on our side in our off-road activities. The team played a major part in the success we enjoyed in the off-road area, from titles in cross-country racing to stage wins at the legendary Rally Dakar and success at other endurance rallies. The new, overriding conditions meant we had to find an acceptable solution for both sides. This process took its course in the same spirit of partnership as has been present throughout the entire cooperation. Over the course of productive and harmonious discussions, we agreed to terminate the existing contract with immediate effect. We wish the Speedbrain team every success for its future in motorsport.”

Wolfgang Fischer, Managing Director of Speedbrain GmbH, said: “We are grateful to BMW Motorrad for the faith they have put in us in recent years. The outstanding cooperation and support we have received from BMW Motorrad over all the years should not be taken for granted. It has been great fun tackling the off-road racing adventures together with BMW Motorrad. It was a fantastic time, during which we all experienced and achieved a lot at rallies all over the world. We would like to wish BMW Motorrad all the best for the future, and are looking forward to the new challenges that now await us.”

Speedbrain has been the team responsible for the off-road activities of BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna Motorcycles since 2006. These initially included outings in Enduro racing and then, since 2011, on the rally scene, with successful starts at the infamous Rally Dakar, in the Rally World Championship, and at other important endurance races. Speedbrain will continue to be involved in motorsport as a rally team in the future".